John McGlone Allen

John McGlone Allen, age 80, passed away peacefully at his home in Seattle, WA on July 31st, 2026.

John was born on September 30, 1945, in Plainfield, New Jersey. He graduated from Ridge High School and began his college studies at Cornell University before transferring to the University of Arizona, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1967. During the summer of 1964, John served as a page in the United States Senate, an experience that sparked a lifelong commitment to public service. After graduation, John worked for the City of Tucson, Arizona, before returning to the East Coast, where he held an administrative leadership role in the Astronomy Department at Harvard University, and ultimately for the State University of New York (SUNY) Medical Research Foundation in Brooklyn. Among his many responsibilities, John’s work was instrumental in securing grants that supported medical research and contributed to advances in human health. He retired as the Assistant Vice President of the SUNY Research Foundation.

Nothing was more important to John than his family. John was known as the family's expert trip planner, especially for memorable road trips that brought everyone together and created lasting memories. John enjoyed camping, skiing, sailing, and canoeing, and he shared those hobbies with his children. John had a remarkable ability to combine creativity, craftsmanship, and curiosity. An accomplished photographer, he especially enjoyed capturing nature through his lens and developing his own black-and-white photographs in his darkroom. He was equally talented with his hands and could often be found tackling home improvement projects, including building additions to his home with skill.

John is survived by his children Barbara Blankley (Christopher), Chrissy DiJulio (Peter), Bryce (Deanna) and Cade (Erica) Allen; his grandchildren Ruby and Jack Blankley and Elisha and Emmanuel Suttle; his first wife, Leone Martin; his siblings Craig Allen (Betsy), Stuart Allen, and Lily Allen; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers- and sisters-in-law, and friends. John was preceded in death by his parents, Harry “Craig” Allen and Jean Allen, and by his wife, Shereen Dearr-Allen.

John will be remembered for his generosity, warm heart, adventurous spirit, quick wit, playful sense of humor, and an endless supply of goofy dad jokes.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.